Flinching like ice
When Professor Lovell rescues Robin, he finds him very weak in bed. However, Professor realizes that the boy is conscious, but before taking him out of bed, he removes a silver bar from his pocket and places it on Robin's chest. The silver bar is cold, and Robin reacts to it. The author writes, "The boy flinched the metal stung like ice." After Robin's reaction, Professor Lovell realizes that the boy is still active, and he takes him for further medical care before they set on a journey to England
Stuck out like sore thumbs
The author uses a simile to show how foreigners were perceived in England in the 1830s. The author writes, "In Oxford, they stuck out like sore thumbs." Ramy remembers how he attracted attention from the Englishmen because of his dark skin. Robin was not easily noticeable as a foreigner because he had light skin. Foreigners were racially discriminated against, and Ramy endured the worst because everyone was suspicious of him.
The simile of a European sailor
When Robin arrives in London, he does not only learn linguistics but also practices horse riding and other activities to keep him fit. While practicing English, he looks like a European sailor imitating Chinese. The author writes, "And sometimes he sounded, to his ears like a European sailor imitating Chinese without knowing what he said." The simile is significant because it shows Robin's determination to learn new languages and fully assimilate into European culture.
